SECTION B
SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2018
AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
ARCADIA POLICE CHIEF GUTHRIE:
HOMELESSNESS AFFECTING BUSINESSES
PASADENA CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS POSITIONS ON JUNE STATEWIDE
BALLOT MEASURES; LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
POSITIONS ON LOCAL MEASURES
Chamber Board and Legislative and Government Affairs Committee considered
measures for impact on local businesses, Pasadena economy and Chamber member
companies
Pasadena, CA - The Board of Directors of the
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce considered the
array of initiatives on the ballot on June 5th. In
deciding whether or not to take a position, the
Board analyzed whether a particular measure
would impact the local economy, local businesses
as a whole, or individual Chamber members.
The Board took these positions on the
statewide and county initiatives:
State of California
Proposition 68: Drought, Water, Park
Bond. SUPPORT. The proposition would
allow for a $4 billion bond sale and reallocate
$100 million for drought prevention, water
sustainability projects and parks.
Proposition 69: Motor Vehicle
Fees. SUPPORT. The proposition restricts gas
tax funding expenditures to transportation and
transit projects and removes the ability of the
state legislature to reallocate these funds.
Proposition 70: Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Reserve Fund. SUPPORT. The proposition
requires all Cap and Trade funds be deposited
in a dedicated account and requires that all
appropriations require a 2/3 legislative majority
vote in 2024.
Proposition 71: Effective date of ballot
measures. SUPPORT. The proposition requires
that statewide ballot measures take effect five
days after the Secretary of State certifies election
results.
Proposition 72: Property Tax
Exclusion. SUPPORT. The proposition would
exclude new construction for rain water capture
systems from re-assessment for property tax.
City of Pasadena and Pasadena Unified School
District
Legislative and Government Affairs
Committee met and is recommending the
following positions on local ballot measures:
Ballot Measure AA: Adjusts the City Election
Calendar. OPPOSE. The measure would align the
city elections, as required by state law, to match
statewide election cycles. While this is required
by law, the means the City Council chose to
implement the rules is non-sensical. Unlike the
Pasadena Unified School District, which will
go to plurality voting where the candidate with
the most votes wins, the City Council chose
to maintain the primary election and general
election cycles, where if no candidate receives a
majority of votes in the primary, there will be a
run-off election at the next statewide cycle, which
would be in November. The City election cycle
would, possibly, begin in advance of the March
primary and not conclude until the following
November. The committee found this extended
election cycle to be prohibitively expensive and
simply too long for voters to remain engaged.
Ballot Measure BB: Adjusts Pasadena Unified
School District Election Calendar. SUPPORT.
The measure puts PUSD in compliance with
state law and allows for plurality voting, where
the candidate with the most votes in the election
wins outright, whether they receive a majority of
votes or not.
Ballot Measure CC: Commercial Cannabis
Regulations. OPPOSE. The measure put forth
by the City Council is extremely restrictive,
allowing for only six retail outlets in Pasadena
and imposing severe distance restrictions. While
the committee appreciates keeping distance
requirements for recreational marijuana sales
from schools, residences and homes, they felt
the small number allowed would simply mean
the status quo would prevail, where illegal sales
would predominate the local marketplace, or
retail operators would set up in neighboring
communities. The overwhelming majority of
Pasadena voters, about two-thirds, supported the
legalization of recreational marijuana. The City
of Pasadena should heed those voters and place
meaningful distance requirements but not allow
for only a minimal number of retail outlets.
Ballot Measure DD: Cannabis Business
Tax. SUPPORT. The measure allows for collection
of business taxes and fees from retail cannabis
operations. Funding would support regulation
enforcement and potentially provide funds for
city operations.
The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce does
not endorse individual candidates for office.
The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and
Civic Association is a professional business
organization. Since the earliest days of Pasadena,
the Chamber has played a major role in the
development of this internationally renowned
city. Since 1888, when the organization was
founded as the Board of Trade, the Chamber’s
primary purpose has been the enhancement of
both the business climate and the quality of life in
Pasadena. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
serves more than 1450 members.
By Joan Schmidt
Arcadia Chamber’s May Community Connections
Meeting featuring Police Chief Bob Guthrie, “Helping
Businesses Deal with the Issue of Homelessness”,
was held at Embassy Suites to accommodate a large
attendance.
Chief Guthrie began, “Homelessness is a real
problem in ALL communities, the result of mental
health issues, substance abuse or healthcare issues. The
last several years, legislation, (AB 169, Props 47 & 57)
has brought a change to dealing with homelessness. In
March, 2017, LA County voters approved Measure H
(. % Sales Tax Increase) which brings over354 million
a year for 10 years. The Board of Supervisors approved
it in April, but Arcadia only receives $30,000 because
of its demographics, being one of the most premier
cities in the county.”
Guthrie hopes to dispel rumors, put facts into place.
The lobbies of the Arcadia Post Offices on Wheeler
and Duarte Roads are no longer open 24 hours. Chief
Guthrie is NOT happy about this; Postal Buildings are
Federal, so he has no power to change those hours…
has reached out to its Postmaster to no avail.
Homelessness and mental health go hand in hand.
Problems include cognitive impairment, substance
abuse, poor access to healthcare, outbreak of Hepatitis
A, difficulty with mobility/transportation, assaults on
homeless, and homeless commit misdemeanors-petty
thefts. Businesses and customers are unhappy with
blocked doorways, abusive restrooms’ use, and trash
problem.
In our 5th District, there were 7735 homeless;
countywide 57,794 in 2017. Only 14 were counted in
Arcadia. Arcadia is a safe and great city to hang out.
The homeless are transient, coming on the Metro Gold
Line using “tap cards” given to them! They stay during
the day, then leave. Arcadia has no area for sleeping-
they tried under the 2nd Avenue Bridge, but were sent
away. Not like the Riverbed Encampment!
In 2014, APD had 421 transient calls; in 2017, 954
calls. In 2015-2016, APD developed the “Homeless
Education and Liaison Program. (H.E.L.P Team)
There are a Lieutenant Commander, two sergeants and
six officers. The HELP Team wants to build a rapport
with the homeless community; the budget is just under
$100,000. Chief Guthrie did acknowledge the Arcadia
City Council and how they have provided support and
funding for more officers and special programs.
The “Mental Health Services” portion of AB 1971
which permits involuntary detention of “gravely
disabled” was amended in January, 2018 to expand the
definition of “gravely disabled” to include a condition
which a person as a result of a mental health condition
or chronic alcoholism is unable to provide for his/her
basic personal needs for food, clothing or shelter, or
a condition in which a person has been found to be
mentally incompetent.
Chief Guthrie feels, “We need somewhere to anchor
the homeless. Build a rapport with them. Clean them
up, connect them with a family member, they need to
want to be helped. Biggest problem—they don’t want
to be helped. The quick fix of arresting people doesn’t
help.”
Sandra Maravilla from Supervisor Kathryn Barger
office told us that the Supervisor targeted funding
for weekly portable showers in East Pasadena from
11:00am-3pm. There also will be monthly services-
social workers-available to assist the homeless and
provide information to obtain needed services.
Thank you Arcadia Chamber of Commerce and
Chief Guthrie for so much information, and Supervisor
Barger for your hard work to help the homeless.
Read us online at:
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mountainviewsnews.
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Jan Greteman626.975.4033Jan@JanGreteman.comJanGreteman.com#01943630Judy Webb-Martin626.688.2273Judy.Webb-Martin@podley.com#00541631
Katie Orth626.688.0418
KatieO@podley.com#00942500
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